5 lakes may breach this monsoon, warns BBMP

People living in the vicinity of a few lakes across the city need to be cautious as the BBMP has identified probable lakes that could breach this monsoon, triggering floods.

The Palike has also directed the authorities to take up works to strengthen the tank bund.

According to documents accessed by DH, the civic body has identified five lakes — Gubbalala Lake at Uttarahalli, Begur Lake, Vasanthapura Lake, Doddakallasandra Lake at Vasanthapura and Kaggadasapura Lake at CV Raman Nagar — have weak embankments with some having no embankments at all.

The officials revealed that a spell of heavy rain, even for a few hours, could breach these bunds, as they are mostly built with mud.

The BBMP council, which met on Thursday and Friday, has approved repair works to the tune of Rs 25 crore.

Mayor Sampath Raj said: “I have already had a meeting with the lake experts on Friday and will soon visit these lakes along with engineers. We have no dearth of resources to strengthen the embankment around these lakes.”

The residents around the lakes are living in fear of floods.

The embankment of Gubbalala Lake has given away at some places as it is completely made of mud.

Recollecting one of the previous incidents, Parvathamma, a local resident said: “13 years ago, my house was inundated due to floods. We have built a new house at the same place now and only hope the condition doesn’t repeat. The BBMP should build a strong bund around the lake.”

Similarly, the Doddakallasandra Lake has already half filled and the residents around fear the floods.

“The bund, built several years ago, is now damaged. One of the damaged areas is close to a school where already some water is seeping out. Before the condition turns worse, the BBMP should do something,” said Vijayalakshmi, one of the residents.

Even though there is hardly any water in Kaggadasapura Lake, the residents fear that one rain could leave the lake flooding.

“Whenever there is water, we face the problem of froth. Sometimes, the froth enters the houses around,” said Kavitha Dharma, a resident in the vicinity of the lake.

With wide and deep cracks on its banks, the Vasanthapura Lake is already a worry for locals.

“The lake looks so beautiful. But we only fear floods as the lake bund is not strong,” said Uma V, one of the residents in the vicinity of the lake.